FOR 45 minutes yesterday, Aston Villa asserted their right to be regarded among the elite of the FA Carling Premiership.

In that time they scoured Leeds’ defence with a variety of moves that finally rubbed a hole into which Andy Townsend darted in the 69th minute with the relish of a man successfully reeking vengeance.

Townsend skirted Jon Newsome as the centre back lunged at Neil Cox's perceptive pass from right back, deliberately moved the ball to his left foot and shot into the far side of John Beeney's goal.

No more than Villa deserved on the weight and quality of their second half play, their opening half having been as accident prone as a team of Mr Beans.

It might, indeed, have been subtitled Bozzie's Bizarre Business, so weird and startling were the succession of assaults on Mark Bosnich's goal by his own teammates.

And as for Townsend, he was bounced around the excellently prepared pitch as if he were in a running Judo contest.

After 17 minutes Newsome rearranged the £2.1 million man's hooter with his elbow and a few tumbles later his arm was lacerated by Brian Deane's studs.

Wrapped conspicuously in bandage at half-time, the arm was his trademark afterwards, to be seen in practically every move constructed with ever greater facility by his team.

It was his long run and angled pass that signalled Villa's revival, Dalian Atkinson once again conveying that hint of ice-cool menace, bringing a plunging save from Beeney after 48 minutes.

Townsend's domination of Gary McAllister was the decisive tactical advantage from here on.

And Villa’s defenders cast aside first half carelessness to deal with the muscular threat of Deane as if the striker was little more than an awkward schoolboy.

Twice, with a thumping header from Tony Daley’s cross and a right foot shot from just inside the penalty area, Dean Saunders was close to scoring, so that manager Ron Atkinson had every cause to post-match satisfaction at beating a team who so often are vines bogey.

An exit poll taken of the manager at half-time would have been different. Perhaps 30 per cent at the ability of Dalian Atkinson to outpace Leeds' central defence against 70 per cent anxiety at self-induced peril.


Shaun Teale having reflexively headed against the underside of his own bar after 23 minutes, Paul McGrath was close to turning the ball into his goal eight minutes later.

Bosnich caught the disease a minute from half-time, swinging his left foot wildly at Earl Barrett's over-strong back pass. Fortunately, he snicked the ball just wide of goal where Steve Staunton was on hand to block Deane's charge.

Self-sacrifice was always more likely to endanger Villa than Leeds' under-confident strikers and even in the first half Atkinson had chances 12 yards or so out on the left.

The first he scuffed, left-footed into Beeney's arms, the second he side-footed with his right into the same haven.

For Villa fans, though, a worse sight was Steve Staunton hobbling from the pitch after 58 minutes with more groin trouble.

The fact that his return has coincided with six wins and a draw from eight matches need not be emphasised.

Now only five points behind third placed Arsenal, Villa have four home matches of their next five in the League and there could yet be a UEFA place for them by this route.

They are gradually, fitfully approaching the standard that can win a trophy.